Personally calibrated bow sight devices

ABSTRACT

A PERSONALLY CALIBRATED BOW-SIGHT DEVICE IN WHICH A SWINGING ARM CARRYING AT ONE END A SIGHT AND PIVOTED AT ITS OTHER END TO A SUPPORT ATTACHED TO THE BOW, SAID ARM BEING FORMED WITH A PART HAVING EITHER A PLANE SURFACE OR A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OVERLYING A SIMILAR PART ON THE SUPPORT, ONE OF SAID PARTS HAVING SPACED HOLES THEREIN AND NUMERALS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH INDICATING DISTANCES OF FLIGHT AND THE OTHER PART BEING IN THE FORM OF A DISC OR A TUBE ON WHICH MARKS MAY BE MADE THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE HOLES IN THE FIRST NAMED PART WHEN THE ARM IS IN THE PROPER POSITION TO CAUSE THE ARROW TO REACH THE TARGET AND WHEN THE TARGET IS SIGHTED WITH REFERENCE TO THE SIGHT.

March 9, 1971 4 J. P. LENDWAY PERSONALLY CALIBRATED BOW SIGHT DEVICES Filed Feb. 5, 1969 INVENTOR. JESSE P. LENDWAY ATTORNE United States Patent US. CI. 33-46 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A personally calibrated bow-sight device in which a swinging arm carrying at one end a sight and pivoted at its other end to a support attached to the bow, said arm being formed with a part having either a plane surface or a cylindrical surface overlying a similar part on the support, one of said parts having spaced holes therein and numerals associated therewith indicating distances of flight and the other part being in the form of a disc or a tube on which marks may be made through the appropriate holes in the first named part when the arm is in the proper position to cause the arrow to reach the target and when the target is sighted with reference to the sight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is in archery and resides in providing a bow-sight device adapted to be applied to a bow and serving to compensate for downward and lateral deviation of the arrow in flight.

In prior art devices bow-sight devices have been employed in which conventional markings for distance of flight have been employed together with a single index adapted to register with said markings. Such devices were not accurate due to variations in the speed of flight due to the stiffness and type of how and arrow and due to the personal characteristics and manipulation of the bow by the archer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention overcomes the disadvantage of former prior art devices by providing a bow-sight device in which a separate index may be provided for each distance of flight of the arrow and which may be applied to the device by the archer when the bow-sight device is adjusted by trial to cause the arrow to successively strike the target at the desired locality.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention and a cross sectional view of the bow to which it is attached.

FIG, 2 is a right-hand side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

'FIG. 3 is an inverted view of part of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the records used with the invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of a modification of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a right-hand side view of the device shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of one of the records used with the device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Since the invention may be used with most any bow, only that portion of the bow to which the bow-sight device is attached has been shown in the drawing and has been indicated by the reference numeral 10. This portion of the bow has a forward edge 11 and sides 12 and 13, the arrow passing the bow on the side 13.

The construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 3,568,323 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 comprises a support 20 which has a base 21 adapted to be secured to the forward edge 11 of the bow 10 by means of screws 22. This base has issuing outwardly from the forward portion of the same a tubular housing 23 whose axis extends transversely of the bow. This housing has an end wall 24 at the right hand end of the same and a bore 25 extending up to the end wall 24 and, open at its other end.

Rotatably mounted in the housing 23 is a cylinder 30 which is surrounded by a record 31 snugly enveloping the cylinder and riding along the surface of housing 23' formed by the bore 25. The open end of the housing 23 has an arcuate recess 32 in which travels an arm 33 issuing from the left hand end of said cylinder.

-Record 31 has a notch 38 in the same which receives the arm 33 and which prevents relative rotation between said record and the cylinder 30.

The end 34 of the cylinder 30 is adapted to engage the end wall 24 of housing 23 and has screwed into it a threaded screw 35 which extends through a hole 36 in the end wall 24 of said housing. One end of the screw 35 has a head 37 which screws up against the end wall 24 and clamps the end 34 of the cylinder against the end wall 24 to restrain rotational movement therebetween.

The end of the arm 33 has a section 41 issing outwardly therefrom with its axis parallel to the axis of the axis of the cylinder 30. Extending outwardly from the outer end of section 41 is an offset 42 whose axis is parallel to the axis of arm 33. Issuing outwardly from the offset 42 is a threaded shank 43 whose axis is parallel to the axis of the section 41. This shank has screwed upon it a threaded tubular member 44. This member is held in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 48 screwed on the shank 43 and engaging the end of said member. Mounted on the member 44 is a sight housing 45 which is tubular in form and which has its axis parallel to the axis of the arm 33. The housing 45 has issuing from it a lug 49 which has extending outwardly therefrom a stub shaft 65 journalled in a bore 66 in the end of the threaded tubular member 44. A clip 68 carried by the member 44 extends through the same and enters an annular slot 67 in the stub shaft and permits rotational movement of housing '45 but restrains longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the member 44. Encircling the housing 45 and received in an annular groove 46 in the same is a ring 51. This ring has a boss 52 and to which is secured a rigid stem 53 having a bead 54 secured to the free end of the same. Stem 53 travels in an arcuate slot 55 in housing 45 when the ring 47 is rotated. The head 54 always remains in the center of the housing 45.

Attached to another boss 56 on the ring 51 at onefourth of the circumference away from boss 52 is a normally depending flexible stem 57 which terminates at its lower end in a head 58. This bead is used when a long shot is to be made and the head 54 would be out of range. The ring 51 can be moved so that the stem 57 is moved to a direction parallel with the axis of the threaded shank 43 and out of the way as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

The housing 23 is formed with two rows of staggered longitudinally spaced holes 61 and 62. Opposite these holes are notations 63 indicating the distance of the flight in yards, each hole corresponding with the adjacent notations. Holes -61 and head 54 are used for short shots, while holes 63 and bead 58 are used for long shots.

The manner of calibrating the device is as follows. The device is attached to the how 10 by means of the screws 22 so that the axis of the cylinder is substantially midway between the ends of the bow. The archer then loosens the screw 37 and moves the arm 33 to a substantially horizontal position. He then moves 20 yards from the target and shoots. If the arrow strikes below the chosen spot on the target aimed at by use of the device, the arm 33 is lowered and another shot taken. If the shot is too high, the arm is raised. Shots are taken until the arrows strike the desired spot on the target. The archer then makes a mark 64 on the record through the hole 61 opposite the notation 63 for 20 yards. If the arrow strikes the target to the right or left of the desired spot, adjustment can be made to compensate therefor by screwing or unscrewing member 44 on shank 43 and holding the same in position by lock nut 48. The procedure is then followed for the other distances until the bow-sight device has been calibrated. The calibrated record appears as shown in FIG. 6, there being another set of marks on the opposite side of the record. If desired, numerous records may be made for various purposes. Records may be made for different persons using the bow; for different tensions on the bow string and for different arrows.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 a modification 70 of the invention is shown. In this form of the invention a housing 71 is employed which is constructed from sheet metal and which has a back 72 overlying the side 12 of the how 10. This back is partly circular in form and has two ears 73 and 74 issuing therefrom and overlying the side 12 of the bow. Screws 75 extend through these ears and attach the housing 71 to the bow. In addition, a flange 81 is bent outwardly from the back 72 and overlies the forward edge 11 of the bow. This flange is also secured to the how by means of screws 82.

Overlying the back 72 and spaced therefrom is a substantially circular flap 76 which is connected to the back by means of a strap 77 integral with both said back and flap. Between the back 72 and the flap 76 is a space 83 in which is received a circular disc-like body 84 which is journalled for rotation on a stud 85 which has a reduced portion 86 riveted to the back 72 of housing 71. This stud is threaded to receive a manually operated screw 87 which passes through a hole 78 in the flap and is adapted to draw the flap 76 toward the back 72. Screw 87 has a portion 88 of its shank Without threads at the head 89 thereof.

Encircling the stud 85 is a circular planiform record 91. This record has a central hole 92 which receives the screw 87 and centers the record on the body 84. This record is also formed with a notch 93 which receives lug 94 formed on body 84 and restrains relative rotational movement therebetween.

Issuing outwardly from the body 84 in a radial direction is an arm 95 which terminates in a head 96 threaded to receive a threaded adjusting screw 97. This screw has secured to one end a finger piece 101 by means of which the same may be rotated. At the other end of this screw is secured a flexible stem 102 which has attached to the free end of the same a bead 103 which serves as a sight. The friction between the screw 97 and the head 96 is sufficient to hold said screw in adjusted position though if desired a lock nut might be employed similar to the lock nut 48 in the other form of the invention.

In the flap 76 is formed a number of staggered holes 105 which extend completely through said flap and expose portions of the record 91. Adjoining these holes are notations 106 indicating the yardage of the flights of the arrows. These holes serve the same purpose as the holes 61 and 62 in the other form of the invention and calibration of the device is accomplished as previously described. A completed calibrated record is shown in FIG. 9 with marks 107 thereon.

The method of using the invention is as follows:

With the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the screw 37 is first removed and then the arm 33 removed by sliding the cylinder 30 axially out of the housing 23. A calibrated record is then slid over the cylinder and pushed along the same to bring arm 33 where it issues from the cylinder into the notch 38 in said record. The assembly is then replaced and also the screw 37. The archer now estimates the distance of flight and swings the arm 33 until the mark corresponding to 4 the distance appears in the hole indicated by the notation adjacent to it. Nut 37 is now tightened and the archer proceeds to shoot using the bead 54 on the sight. When the distance is different the arm 33 is readjusted.

With the other form of the invention the screw 87 is removed and a calibrated record such as shown in FIG. 9 is inserted edgewise into the space 83 and between the flap 76 and body 84 and the same adjusted until the lug 94 is received in notch 93 in the record and until the hole 92 registers with the hole 78 in flap 76. Screw 89 is then applied. Arm is then adjusted to bring the corresponding mark at the hole adjacent the notation indicating the actual distance of flight. Screw 87 is now tightened down to clamp the parts from movement. Shooting is then conducted in the customary manner using the bead 103 as a sight.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The device serves to permit of adjustment of the sight to compensate for the characteristics and habits of the archer, for different arrows and adjustments of the bow, and for different distances and for windage. Calibration can readily be made by the archer. The records can be readily kept available and interchanged as required and new records made when necessary.

With the invention records can be made with different persons so that several persons can use the bow by simply substituting their own records. The device is extremely neat in appearance and does not disfigure the bow or interfere with the operation thereof. The bow-sight is simple in construction and can be manufactured at a nominal expense. There is no confusion in using the invention as marks can appear only in one hole at a time as the arm is swung about its axis.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A bow sight device comprising:

(a) a support attached to the bow (b) an arm extending outwardly and forwardly from the bow (c) pivot means connecting one end of the arm to the support (d) a sight at the other end of said arm,

(e) sight supporting means acting between the sight and the other end of the arm,

(f) said pivot means including:

(g) a part on said arm and (h) apart on said support (i) said parts having juxtaposed surfaces which are relatively movable in one direction,

(j) one of said parts having a plurality of fixed denotations on said surface thereof indicating various distances of flight and spaced from one another in a direction transverse to the direction of relative move ment of the parts,

(k) a plurality of cooperating denotations at said surface of the other part, one for each'fixed denotation and each adapted to register only with one of the fixed denotations.

2. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the fixed denotations are on the part fixed relative to the bow and,

(b) the cooperating denotations are on the part movable with the arm.

3. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the fixed denotations are in the form of holes extending through said surface of the part on the support to expose said surface of the part on the arm and,

(b) the cooperating denotations are marks at said Surface of the part on the arm and visible to the user through the holes in the part on the support.

4. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the part on the arm is removable from the support.

5. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) said surfaces of the parts on the arm and support are cylindrical and,

(b) the axes thereof are coaxial.

6. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) said surfaces of the parts on the arm and support are planiform and,

(b) the axis of rotation of the arm is at right angles to said surfaces.

7. A bow sight device according to claim 4 in which:

(a) the part on the support is in the form of a tube.

8. A bow sight device according to claim 4 in which:

(a) the part on the support is in the form of a disc.

9. A bow sight device according to claim 4 in which:

(a) keying means coacts between the removable part and the arm to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

10. A bow sight device according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the supporting means includes a tubular sight housing, through which the sight may be taken (b) a ring encompassing said housing and rotatable relative thereto (c) a stem issuing inwardly from said ring,

((1) a sight on the end of said stem located at the axis of said ring,

(e) a second stem issuing outwardly from said ring and (f) a sight on the second stern,

(g) said second stern being movable from a depending substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,970 10/1951 Verderber 273--79 2,669,023 2/1954 Pizzuti 33-46 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner S. L. STEPHAN, Assistant Examiner 

